Starts In Konoha: Unlocking Shadow Clone

Naruto stared at the figure before him: jet-black hair, blood-red Sharingan eyes, perfectly complementing the black robe with red clouds pattern. This robe, unmistakably the uniform of the Akatsuki, signified the deadly allegiance of its wearer!

On the man's face were two distinct tear lines, while his nails and toenails were painted dark purple, and on his right ring finger, a ring inscribed with the kanji for 'vermilion' gleamed.

In his previous life, even a passerby unfamiliar with Naruto series would recognize this man's reputation.

But for Naruto, who knew every twist of Naruto's plot, his presence was even more profound. Standing before him was none other than Uchiha Itachi, the Missing-nin who had massacred his clan, a member of the Akatsuki, and one of the most complex figures in the Shinobi World.

No matter how Naruto calculated, he couldn't have expected to encounter Itachi here. He could have imagined Danzo showing up, but Itachi's presence was absurd.

By all logic, Itachi should be at Amegakure, Akatsuki's base, far from Konoha. Naruto, on his very first visit to the Naka Shrine, had stumbled upon Itachi, a meeting that, even with minimal statistical knowledge, he knew was extraordinarily improbable.

Itachi's arrival was just plain absurd!

However, before Naruto could dwell further on this strange twist of fate, Itachi's voice calmly rang out, "Come out."

'Sure enough, I was discovered.'

Naruto wasn't surprised. Hiding in the shadows could fool most, but not Itachi, whose perception and mental acuity were unparalleled. Moreover, Naka Shrine was sacred to the Uchiha Clan, where even the smallest disturbance would alert a true Uchiha.

"Let's keep it civil, okay? We're both family here, no need for conflict." Naruto said, stepping out of the shadows.

"Oh? And who are you?" Itachi raised an eyebrow slightly, eyeing Naruto.

Naruto understood that the shrine's underground chamber was accessible only to those with the Sharingan. To Itachi, Naruto was a complete stranger. And since he could be here, he must be an Uchiha.

"I am Uzumaki Naruto."

Naruto didn't hide it.

He had, after all, long considered reaching out to Itachi, though he hadn't yet fully prepared his approach. But life had just proven to him the old adage: no plan survives first contact with reality.

So Naruto kept his plan simple, relying on two words… honest transparency. Lies now would only snowball into a mess of future deceptions.

Besides, even a single misstep would surely alert Itachi's keen instincts.

"Uzumaki Naruto… You're the Kyubi's Jinchuriki?"

Itachi's eyes narrowed slightly.

Again, only those with Sharingan can enter this underground chamber, so how can Naruto come in?

Itachi knew very well that Naruto was the child of the Yondaime Hokage Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina.

Now that Naruto had the Sharingan, did that mean that Naruto was not Minato's son, but the product of an affair between Kushina and other Uchiha Clan's members? Just now, Naruto also mentioned they are family.

'No wonder Yondaime sealed Kyubi into his son's body. Perhaps he already knew that Uzumaki Naruto was not his biological son.'

Itachi, who prided himself on his composure, felt his mind reel at the shocking realization.

Naruto was unaware of the whirlwind of assumptions racing through Itachi's mind, otherwise, he would have said that Itachi had watched too many melodramatic soap operas.

He nodded slightly and said, "Yes, I am the Kyubi's Jinchuriki."

In an instant, Itachi snapped out of his surprise. While it was intriguing to learn such details, he couldn't afford to let it distract him.

No matter what Naruto's background is, it cannot change the fact that the Akatsuki wants to capture the Jinchuriki and extract the Biju.

So what if he has Uchiha blood? It's not the first time he has killed his own kind.

"Meeting you here saves me some time," Itachi said calmly, his fingers making the slightest movement.

With just that small action, Naruto's vision swam with swirling leaves, and his head began to feel dizzy.

However, in the next moment, clarity returned to Naruto's eyes. He had anticipated Itachi would use Genjutsu and had prepared accordingly.

Kurama, who is lying in wait within him, was ready to disrupt Naruto's Chakra Flow the instant any foreign Chakra invaded his mind.

Under normal circumstances, one could escape a Genjutsu by disrupting their own Chakra Flow, but that required the victim to realize they were trapped. Itachi's Genjutsu was so refined and subtle that recognizing the trap in time was nearly impossible. And even if one did, disrupting their Chakra Flow often wasn't feasible immediately.

Having a Biju to interfere with the Genjutsu was an optimal countermeasure. Perfect Jinchuriki, who could synchronize seamlessly with their Biju, were effectively immune to most Genjutsu, breaking free almost instantaneously.

Of course, Itachi's Genjutsu wasn't 'most Genjutsu'.

Naruto's greatest fear was Tsukuyomi, Itachi's infamous Mangekyo Sharingan's Dojutsu, heralded as the ultimate Genjutsu. With mere eye contact, Itachi could activate Tsukuyomi, dragging his target's consciousness into a completely controlled Genjutsu World. In that place, disrupting Chakra was futile.

Worse yet, the rules of time and space in Tsukuyomi were dictated solely by Itachi. A few moments in the real world could equate to days of torment within the Genjutsu. Even Kurama's external interference would be ineffective against Tsukuyomi, as the mental attack concluded in the blink of an eye.

The simplest way to counter Tsukuyomi, then, was avoiding direct eye contact with Itachi. Clumsy as it might seem, it was remarkably effective.

Naruto found himself envying Kabuto. After mastering Sage Mode, Kabuto could block his eyes with the unique structure of a snake's cornea while relying on thermal detection and sensory abilities to track enemies like Itachi without visual exposure.

Unfortunately, Naruto had no such ability.

In fact, he hadn't even planned on encountering Itachi today. His original goal had been to visit Ryuchi Cave for a potential Snake Sage Mode.

Since he had unlocked Toad Sage Mode at Mount Myoboku, Naruto speculated he might gain Snake Sage Mode at Ryuchi Cave.

Whoosh!

Naruto's train of thought was abruptly interrupted by a flurry of shuriken. Itachi wasted no time, launching an assault.

Naruto opted for brute force to counter the threat, unwilling to risk any intricate maneuver that might leave him vulnerable to Itachi's infamous Manipulated Shuriken Technique.

Ding!

Mobilizing the Kyubi's Chakra, he punched down with one blow, and the shuriken was smashed into pieces by his bare fist.

However, before Naruto could feel proud, Itachi closed the distance, holding a kunai.

Naruto moved to block but froze as he locked eyes with Itachi's blood-red Mangekyo Sharingan!

'Not good!'

Naruto realized too late. In his brief moment of triumph, he had forgotten to avoid direct eye contact.

In that instant, his consciousness was forcibly dragged into another dimension.

When Naruto regained awareness, he found himself standing not in the dark underground, but in a realm soaked entirely in crimson hues...